Shelter



' Dec. 12, 1944. J. E. BOWEN 2,364,941

SHELTER Filed May 21, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wy-m J. E. BOWEN Dec. 12, 1944.

SHELTER Filed May 21, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 12, 1944 SHELTER John E. Bowen, Grosse Ile, 'Mich., assignor to National Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application May 21, 1943, Serial No. 487,933

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to improvements in readily erectable and demountable shelters and more particularly to a novel bulkhead for use with such shelters.

The bulkhead of the present invention is especially adaptable for use with a shelter of the type disclosed in copending application Serial No. 486,090, filed May 7, 1943, by L. S. Brown and J. F. Hirshfeld.

Normally, with the type of shelter disclosed in the above referred to application a substantial steel or wood bulkhead is used to close the ends of the structure. Where shelters of this type are to be used in the tropics or mild climates, although the arched wall structure of the shelter must be just as strong, the bulkhead may be of much lighter construction. This is specially true where an extension of the hut protects the bulkhead from the elements. The present invention provides a very light weight economical bulkhead for use in mild climates orv where the bulkhead is protected by an extension. Besides the great savings in material required, the bulkhead of the present invention saves considerable shipping space and weight.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a bulkhead incorporating a major proportion of canvas in its construction to produce a light Weight economical structure.

A further important object of the present invention is the provision of a bulkhead which may be easily assembled in the field.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying f drawings which disclose a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the bulkhead in place in a shelter;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the shelter shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic View taken through one end of the shelter showing the bulkhead and extension arrangement;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure l.

The shelter disclosed in the drawings includes a base structure and an arched wall structure, the ends of which are closed by bulkheads I 0 made in accordance with the present invention.

The arched wall structure includes a framework made up of arched ribs H to which is fastened exterior sheathing l2 and interior Wall paneling [3. The base structure includes oists l4 supporting a floor IS. The exterior sheathing is extended beyond the bulkhead at Hi to form a protective extension.

Bulkhead I0 includes a door panel indicated generally at I! preferably centrally located with.

respect to'the bulkhead. The door panel extends from the base to the top of the shelter and includes a bottom member [8, a top member l9 and a pair of door jambs 28. A door 2| is hingedly mounted on one of door lambs 20, the other door jamb being recessed at 2| to receive the edge of the door. Top member 19 includes ventilating louvers 22. Door panel I! can be shipped as a unit and is placed in position in the field by any suitable connection with the base and wall structure of the shelter. Preferably, bottom member l8 and top member I9 extend to the bottom and top of the shelter respectively, closing the end space in the base and wall structures.

The bulkhead further includes a pair of canvas sections 23 and 24 which may be similar where the door panel divides the building symmetrically as shown. Each canvas section has a vertical edge secured at 25 to a vertical edge of the door jamb for the entire height thereof. Adjacent its bottom edge each canvas section has attached thereto a strip 26 along a line of stitching 21. This leaves a free edge portion 28 of the strip available for connection to the base structure. In the preferred embodiment, a batten strip 29 secures edge portion 28 to floor l5. Below strip 26 the canvas section extends downwardly and by means of a reversed portion 30 stitched to the canvas section along a plurality of lines 3|, this depending portion of the canvas section is stifiened to hold the same in place closing the open end of the base structure. Each canvas section has a curved edge corresponding to the curvature of the arched wall structure. The material along this edge is doubled back at 32 and stitched along lines'33 to give a stifiened flap. Reversed portion 32 terminates in a free portion 34 which in the preferred embodiment is secured to the wall panel [3 by means of batten strip 35. The stifiened flap defined by double back portion 32 holds the edge of the canvas section contiguous to the internal side of the sheathing, thereby closing the end space of the wall structure.

Each canvas section includes a screened opening 36 having a blackout curtain 31 which is shown rolled up in Figure 1. Door 2| is furnished with a similar blackout curtain 38.

When the term canvas is used herein it is intended to include any stout fabric or suitable clothlike material.

I claim:

A bulkhead for use with a shelter of the type having a base structure including supporting members and a floor and an arched wall structure including exterior sheathing and a spaced interior wall comprising a door panel adapted to be fastened at the top to the arched wall structure and at the bottom to the base structure, a pair of canvas sections each fastened along one edge to a side of the door panel for the entire length of such sides, each canvas section having a lower edge adapted to be positioned along the bottom of the base structure and a curved edge adapted to be positioned along the exterior sheathing, fastening means adjacent the lower edge on each section for fastening the same to the floor side of the base structure, fastening means adjacent the curved edge on each section for fastening the same to the interior side of the wall structure,

7 and stiffening means between the fastening means and the associated edges to retain the 

